OFAC announces sanctions tied to Mexican drug cartel

Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC OFAC Designations OFAC Sanctions SDN List Mexico Department of Treasury

On February 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 14059, against six Mexican nationals involved in the methamphetamine and fentanyl trade, along with six related Mexico-based entities. According to OFAC, the sanctioned network’s actions aid a Mexican drug cartel’s facilitation of fentanyl and other drugs trafficked into the United States. OFAC coordinated with the Mexican government, the FBI, and the DEA to take this action. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, and “may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 14059.” Additionally, OFAC warned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.”